How to Get Pit Stains Out

Pit stains happen and they normally do when it seems most inconvenient leaving you to think how to get out pit stains out? There are plenty of great ways for removing those unsightly pit stains along with some great tips to preventing them. Knowing these tips could save your wardrobe.

How to Get Pit Stains Out Method 1: Cold Water and OxiClean

What you will need:

Cold water

OxiClean or hydrogen peroxide and baking soda

Like most other stains it is very inportant to treat pit stains as soon as possible. There are even ways to try and prevent these stains from happening. To prevent and get pit stains out of your shirts read on.

As soon as you get home from that heavy workout or long day at work you should begin to treat your pit stains. The earlier you treat the stain the easier it is to rid yourself of the pit stains. Most often Pit stains are not caused by your sweat itself, but rather the sweat mixed with your antiperspirant.

If you know that you have sweated particularly bad that day or you are prone to getting pit stains you should begin the pit stain removal process by rinsing the garment with cold water. The cold water is able to wash away the acidic sweat left on your clothing, while warm water will only make the stain more permanent. You should complete this step even if there is not a pit stain yet. The yellowing will take place when left in the hamper until laundry day.

After you have rinsed a lot of the sweat and antiperspirant away you will then need to rub the fabric of the shirt together while still running it under the cold water. This will allow you to wash away the sweat and antiperspirant form the fabrics fibers.

Wash the shirt as you normally would. DO NOT put the shirt in the dryer unless you are sure that you have gotten the pit stains out. If you apply heat to the shirt before the stain has been properly removed you could cause the stain to be permanent.

Inspect the pit stain. If the stain remains you will need to use a little stronger stain remover; move on to step 6.

For those really stubborn pit stains you can use OxiClean or a homemade Oxiclean made with 1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide and 1/2 baking soda. Tip: hydrogen peroxide is a bleaching agent and can cause the color of your shirt to change or fade.

For this method you will need to begin by filling the basin of your washing machine with cold water.

Next, you will need to add the appropriate amount of OxiClean. You can find this amount in the directions located on the bottle.

After you have added the water, OxiClean, and clothing with the pit stains set your washer to pre-soak for about 30 minutes.

Wash the shirt as you normally would.

*Tip: Never bleach a pit stain as it will only make the stain worse and more permanent.

How to Get Pit Stains Out Method 2: Lemon Juice and Salt

What you will need:

Lemon juice

Salt

sunlight (optional)

Lemon juice is used in many stain removal processes because it will act as a natural bleaching agent. For this reason you will need to test your clothing before you use this method. To test if lemon juice is safe to use on your clothing place a small amount on the inseam of the shirt. Allow it to sit for about 1 minute. Rinse the shirt with cold water. Inspect the fabric. If the color did not change or fade the lemon juice is safe to use.

Now that you know it is safe to use lemon juice on your shirt begin by wetting the pit stains with the lemon wedge or bottled lemon juice.

Next, you will need to sprinkle a generous amount of salt over the lemon juice.

Now you will want to rub the pit stained shirt between your fingers. You should do this until you see the stain lift.

If you have a particularly stubborn armpit stain you can place the pit stained shirt in the sun to continue to the stain removal process. Just remember that you are continuing to bleach out your shirt in the sun. You will need to watch and make sure that you are not changing the color or fading the color of your shirt.

Once the stain is dry you can launder the shirt as you normally would.

Inspect the shirt. If the pit stains remain repeat the steps above. Remember do not put the shirt in the dryer unless the stain has been completely removed. The dryer will only set the stain further into the shirt.

How to Get Pit Stains Out Method 3: Denture Tablets

What you will need:

2 denture tablets

clean water

This stain removal method is very easy and simple to complete. Simply follow the steps below and your pit stain woes will be solved.

If you notice that the pit stains on your shirt are yellow you should use this method to treat the stains.

To begin this process you will need to place 2 denture cleaning tablets in a bucket.

Next, pour hot clean water over the denture tablets. Don't be alarmed when the denture tablets begin to foam. This is what the denture tablets are supposed to do.

Add the pit stained shirt to the denture tablet water. Allow the shirt to soak until the yellow stains have ben removed. If the stains are stubborn then you may have to leave the shirt to soak for several hours.

Inspect the area. If the stain remains repeat the process. If the stain has been removed wash as you normally would.